Upcoming races can motivate runners to stay in shape this holiday season . . . especially one
for which a swimsuit is the suggested attire.

Participants will wear a Speedo, a Santa hat and not much else in the inaugural Santa Speedo
Dash for Diabetes, an Arena District 5-kilometer run on Dec. 15 that’s among several holiday- or
winter-themed races during the next two weeks.

The race was inspired by Boston’s similar SSRun, which has raised more than $1 million for
children’s charities in 12 years. The Columbus event, which will include a post-race party at Park
Street Cantina, benefits the Central Ohio Diabetes Association.

Association spokesman Charles Farmer said that race wear can include leggings or other additions
and encouraged that swimsuit choices be tasteful — “if that can be tasteful,” he added with a
laugh.

“The best thing about this is that we don’t know. What’s going to happen here?” he said. “That’s
what makes it fun.”

Other races, meanwhile, will offer similar holiday spirit and the chance to wear more
clothing.

At the M3S Holiday Run, a 4-mile race on Sunday at Sharon Woods Metro Park, many participants
will wear an outfit included with registration: a Santa hat and a long-sleeved shirt resembling
Santa’s suit. (The race, with a limit of 300, has sold out.)

Hecker’s Farms in Heath will host an evening race, the Mistletoe Madness 5K, on a luminaria-lit
trail that winds through part of the 115-acre property and around a pond. After the race on
Saturday, participants can visit with Santa, take a carriage ride and shop for trees and
wreaths.

“We want it to be a fun run,” said Michael Heckmann, who opened the farm in September and hopes
that it will become a venue for community events. “Even if families want to come out and do it as a
walk, just to do something together, that’s great.”

A race Sunday on the Alum Creek State Park bridle path that covers three distances up to 15
kilometers (9.3 miles) comes with a reward: a bowl of turkey chili made by Craig Thompson, owner of
Greenswell, the company producing the race.

The Chili Trail Run, part of a trail-running series, offers a different type of scenery and
experience as runners encounter streams, logs, embankments and other natural elements.

Jeff Sheard of Ultrafit-USA says that participating in a winter race such as his Dublin
Snowflake Run, a 5K on a running path, is a good way to get out of the gym — and get ready for
plenty of holiday eating.

“You want to shed some calories before you put them back on,” he said.

But in the (tongue-in-cheek) opinion of one other race organizer, none of that matters.
According to the Maya, the world is ending on Dec. 21.

On Dec. 15, runners can start celebrating their last six days on Earth by partying at Kildare’s
Irish Pub in the South Campus Gateway and running in the Doomsday Dash, a 5K on a straight course
that director Eric Young noted will make for fast times. “In case,” he said, “it’s your last 5K
ever.”